One LA resident attempts to build his bankroll, talk poker and other life stuff, and join the esteemed poker blogerati.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Hollywood Park - a review

I was due in Santa Monica tonight at 8, so beforehand I decided to hit the last of the undiscovered LA casinos, Hollywood Park.

On the way I passed the historic LA Forum. It looks deserted now but I remember it from the days when Magic and Karim used to play there...you would always see it on TV.

Although I had a rough showing today, I have to say I liked the vibe at Hollywood Park. Something about it felt oddly comfortable. It is small, like Hustler, but something about it made me more comfortable - can't quite place it.

I sit in the 1 seat and I am card dead. No other way to say it. This is a $100 max 2/3 table (I know - madness)and one guy was definitely the captain as I sat down. He was raising about 80% of his cards, and I was just dying for something to trap him with, but nothing came. The best thing I saw all day was JJ, and I had to lay them down when a tight guy raised the captain. I had the captain on aq because he put out a larger than average raise for him UTG, and then the tight guy 3 bet...I had him on KK or QQ, so I laid the Jacks down. I told the guy next to me exactly what I thought, and sure enough...AQ v QQ. i like it when my reads are right.

I then took over for a while. I raise late with one limper with Qh7h and flop two pair. I trap the captain by calling every raise until the river when an Ace comes. He reps it with a $40 bet and I shove...he folds. I then bluffed the same guy out with 99 on a board with KQ83 and induced a turn fold. I then went up and down a bit, catching absolutely nothing, and left 30 down.

I'm glad I finished the tour....but I'm still not set on my favorite place yet. It is all very location specific. Technically Commerce and The Bike are closest, no doubt - and I dont see a trip to Hawaiian Gardens in my future. I think my next trip will be back to the Bike. It was my first trip, and I should give it another shot.